As the back-to-school season begins, it’s the perfect time to revisit a comforting classic with a fresh twist—roasted tomato soup made with garden-fresh heirloom tomatoes (or your favorite store-bought variety). Pair it with a crispy grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of 2019 Laurel Glen Lot 51 Cabernet Sauvignon for a nostalgic yet elevated meal.
Soup Serves 6
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 pounds heirloom tomatoes — quartered
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 4 cloves garlic — minced
- 1 shallot — diced
- ½ cup basil leaves
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- ¼ cup heavy cream
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Core and quarter the tomatoes; if they are large heirlooms cut them into eights so that all tomatoes are similar size. Divide between two baking sheets and drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss so the tomatoes are evenly coated. Place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes; rotate the roasting pans ½ way through cooking.
- Once tomatoes are roasted, they will have released juices and some caramelization will have taken place, depending on the amount of water in the tomatoes. Remove from oven and let rest.
- In a large soup pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat and add the diced shallot and minced garlic. Stir and cook until translucent and tender (lower the heat if the mixture begins to burn), approximately 5 minutes.
- Add all the tomatoes and juices to the pan; stir in basil and broth. Bring just to a boil and lower heat to a simmer for 20 minutes.
- With an immersion blender, blend the entire mixture till you have a smooth consistency. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can blend the mixture in batches in a regular blender.
- Taste to check for balance of seasonings; add more salt and pepper if needed.
- Drizzle in cream and stir to combine.
Oven “Grilled” Cheese Sandwiches
Baking grilled cheese sandwiches in the oven is a simpler method—and it’s perfect for making a batch at once to feed a crowd!
INGREDIENTS:
- Good artisan sliced bread
- Good aged cheddar cheese, shredded
- Softened butter
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Lay out the bread on the baking sheet in stacks of two, you can fit 8 sandwiches per baking sheet. Generously butter one side of each slice. Lay the buttered side down and then pile on a generous handful of cheese. Close up the sandwich with the buttered side up and press firmly down to bind it all together. Continue with remaining sandwiches.
- Place the baking sheet in the middle of the oven and bake for 10 minutes, flip the sandwiches gently and bake another 10 minutes. You will have golden perfect grilled cheese sandwiches every time!